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Employee in explosion at Bombardier plant dies in hospital

Nov. 12, 2012, Valcourt, Que. – Bombardier Recreational Products says one of its employees has died in hospital following an explosion last Friday at a Quebec plant.

The company says Sebastien Tardif, a 38-year-old father of two, died from injuries sustained in the explosion at the Valcourt, Que., research facility.

A second person who was injured in the blast, a security guard, remains in intensive care in the burn unit of Quebec City's Enfant-Jesus hospital.

Tardif was a dynamometer operator, an instrument that is used to measure torque, power or force.

The company says an investigation is ongoing to determine what caused the blast during the night shift at the facility.

The province's workplace health and safety commission and the local fire department have been investigating.

The research centre is closed but the company says manufacturing operations have not been affected.

The company says in a statement that its thoughts are with Tardif's family and friends and it has offered support to the family and Tardif's fellow employees.

BRP was spun off by Bombardier Inc. in 2003. It is half-owned by Bain Capital, with the founding Beaudoin family holding a 35 per cent stake and the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec owning the rest.

The Valcourt plant produces Ski-Doo snowmobiles, Sea-Doo jet skis and Can-Am all-terrain vehicles and is located about 130 kilometres east of Montreal.